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Is Local Government Necessary? Overview of Recommendations

Local Government Reform: We've got to stop governing like this…or do we? A.K.A Is Local Government Reform Necessary?

• One of The Commission's viewpoints was that Hoosiers should not be denied essential services. What essential services are being denied? How prevalent is this problem?
• The Commission was functioning under the assumption that a streamlined government would save money by eliminating excess administrative costs and would find other cost efficiencies. Will we really save money? How much money? Should saving money be a driving factor for government restructuring?
Guiding principles
• Given the variety and complexity of what local governments do, is it reasonable to expect that local government would ever be something the casual observer could understand? Would the casual observer ever be able to have a good idea about who to hold accountable?
• Indiana Code does not provide for much flexibility in how local governments are structured. For example, second-class cities, which range in population from 35,001 to 599,999 people, have nine council members regardless of the size of the city. Why is there so little flexibility? Which recommendations will bring the most flexibility?
• The Commission was concerned with "practical, concrete, commonsense solutions" and not "grand ideas." In their totality, these recommendations seem pretty grand. Did The Commission forget this guiding principle or are the recommendations practical and commonsense?
• Based on the guiding principles, it seems that accountability can be equated with decisions being made by elected officials and not appointed officials. Do you agree with this statement? Why was it so important to have elected officials making decisions?
What reform do you think would bring the most significant reform? Why is that the most
significant reform?
Are there reforms you think should have been suggested? Why weren't they?
The General Assembly took very little action this past session and did not create an
interim study committee to analyze the recommendations? These facts do not suggest
that there will be much action taken. What are the prospects for reform? If they are
small, then what was the purpose of The Commission?
Many of these recommendations have been around for years. Did we need a blue-ribbon
commission to tell us about these?
The Governor charged you with finding ways to reduce the cost of government. The
recommendations do not focus on this as much as they do on making government work
better. If all of these recommendations were implemented, would we see real cost
savings?
Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne • Department of Political Science •
2101 E. Coliseum Blvd. • Classroom-Medical Building, Rm. 209 • Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805 «
(260) 481-6691 voice • (260) 481-6985 fax • downsa@ipfw.edu • www.mikedownscenter.org

• One of The Commission's viewpoints was that Hoosiers should not be denied essential services. What essential services are being denied? How prevalent is this problem?
• The Commission was functioning under the assumption that a streamlined government would save money by eliminating excess administrative costs and would find other cost efficiencies. Will we really save money? How much money? Should saving money be a driving factor for government restructuring?
Guiding principles
• Given the variety and complexity of what local governments do, is it reasonable to expect that local government would ever be something the casual observer could understand? Would the casual observer ever be able to have a good idea about who to hold accountable?
• Indiana Code does not provide for much flexibility in how local governments are structured. For example, second-class cities, which range in population from 35,001 to 599,999 people, have nine council members regardless of the size of the city. Why is there so little flexibility? Which recommendations will bring the most flexibility?
• The Commission was concerned with "practical, concrete, commonsense solutions" and not "grand ideas." In their totality, these recommendations seem pretty grand. Did The Commission forget this guiding principle or are the recommendations practical and commonsense?
• Based on the guiding principles, it seems that accountability can be equated with decisions being made by elected officials and not appointed officials. Do you agree with this statement? Why was it so important to have elected officials making decisions?
What reform do you think would bring the most significant reform? Why is that the most
significant reform?
Are there reforms you think should have been suggested? Why weren't they?
The General Assembly took very little action this past session and did not create an
interim study committee to analyze the recommendations? These facts do not suggest
that there will be much action taken. What are the prospects for reform? If they are
small, then what was the purpose of The Commission?
Many of these recommendations have been around for years. Did we need a blue-ribbon
commission to tell us about these?
The Governor charged you with finding ways to reduce the cost of government. The
recommendations do not focus on this as much as they do on making government work
better. If all of these recommendations were implemented, would we see real cost
savings?
Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne • Department of Political Science •
2101 E. Coliseum Blvd. • Classroom-Medical Building, Rm. 209 • Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805 «
(260) 481-6691 voice • (260) 481-6985 fax • downsa@ipfw.edu • www.mikedownscenter.org